Today is Bronchiectasis Awareness Day. This is an ailment I was diagnosed with about two years ago. It affects about 210,000 people in the UK. That number has risen quite quickly in recent years, probably because of better diagnosis. It isn't easy to diagnose as the damage done to the lungs is only shown up using a specialist CT scan, normal chest X-rays don't usually the damage it causes. Also, because it is relatively rare, there isn't a great deal of awareness of it in the medical community either.
I may have had it for years, but I put it down to asthma, as did my asthma nurse. It is likely that asthma proceeded it. It was only when I had one chest infection after another over a 6 month period, none of which cleared up with a normal course of antibiotics, that any suspicion of me having bronchiectasis was raised. The main symptoms are a persistent productive cough, frequent chest infections, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pains and sometimes blood in your sputum.
It is a progressive disease of the lungs which isn't related to smoking. The causes aren't completely known, in fact there are probably a number of causes. Airways in the lungs become enlarged and scarred. This means that the tiny hair-like structures that keep our lungs clear of mucus don't work properly and plugs of mucus build up. These plugs of mucus are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and other infections.
We all have bacteria in our lungs but because most of us have normal airways and can keep them clear. But because the lungs of people with bronchiectasis are damaged they find it difficult to keep their lungs clear and the resulting infections cause more damage to the lungs and so a vicious cycle is established. Although I do lung clearing exercise everyday, I have had 2 chest infections already this year.
The chances of you or a member of your family having it are small. But if you have a persistent productive cough and have had frequent chest infections, it is worth getting yourself checked out.
It isn't a curable disease, but is treatable. By learning how to keep your lungs clear, not a particularly pleasant task, you can reduce the amount of infections you get and help to prevent further damage to your lungs. Because infections are difficult to clear, the usual course of antibiotics for people with bronchiectasis is two weeks. If you have asthma like I do, it usually sets that off and I also need a 7 day course of prednisolone too. I have a rescue pack of medication at home at all times so that I can start treatment straight away.
Fortunately my bronchiectasis is mild, but it is progressive. However, by good management, not something that is always easy to keep on top of, the progression can be kept to a minimum.
The worse thing about having bronchiectasis is the persistent productive cough. It can sound pretty awful, and I'm aware that in these times of Covid people are much more aware of people coughing. But, although like everyone else, I could catch Covid, the majority of infections that people with bronchiectasis have are normal bugs found in most healthy people's lungs, it's just that they overgrow and cause trouble for the person with the disease. So they don't usually pose a risk to most people.
Bronchiectasis isn't a lot of fun, but with the right help it doesn't mean it has to control your life.
